My local newspaper runs an annual Breast Cancer Awareness supplement. I was interviewed for one of this years’ articles, “Dealing with Diagnosis.” The article profiled three women: a woman who was diagnosed in 1999 at age 34, an 11 year survivor who is also the medical director of a local breast health center and yours truly. My part was about how journaling can help you through the process.
The article highlighted different approaches that people have to coping with a breast cancer diagnosis. After all, just like there is not just one type of breast cancer there is certainly not just one way to cope with the disease. It’s no surprise that different folks find solace through different means. But there seem to be some common steps on the path toward that sometimes elusive feeling-of- healing: be proactive about your health, exercise, volunteer and share your story in some way.
The article is not online, so here is one of my quotes:
Survivor is a misunderstood word. It’s a useful word to describe a piece of my identity, but there is not some magical point of graduation.
When do you become a breast cancer survivor? That’s a point that gets bandied about now and again. Is it the day of diagnosis? After treatment is completed? After you are cancer-free for X amount of time? Some people embrace the term and others seek distance from it.
As a self-proclaimed word nerd, I find this quite fascinating. Here is the National Cancer Institute definition of a survivor: One who remains alive and continues to function during and after overcoming a serious hardship or life-threatening disease. In cancer, a person is considered to be a survivor from the time of diagnosis until the end of life.
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Watch Joni Eareckson Tada on PBS http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/september-24-2010/joni-eareckson-tada/7074/. Recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Joni is one of longest living quadriplegics, best-selling author, acclaimed artist and advocate for people with disabilities.
I have been trying to figure out when I get to be considered a survivor. My husband says it was the day they cut out the cancerous tumor. Like you I had a bilateral mastectomy, then tissue expanders, now chemo and implants will follow. So, I don’t really feel like a survivor til I’m done with that stuff, but guess I am. (I will be doing the oophorectomy and Arimidex as well).
Excellent posting and so nicely written. Even today, nine years out of my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, I say I’m a survivor, but I still have a psychological reaction to that word. I think the National Cancer Institution’s definition is on the mark.
Congrats on your spot in the article. It’s great they took the time to learn about the special place writing and blogging has in many women’s hearts. Until early this summer, I had no idea the world of breast cancer was so open to talk about their experiences and offer tips of advice…then I found the blogs. I’m still a bit fascinated by the online community these blogs have contributed to. I still can’t determine if survivor is a good or bad word but I have learned a lot.
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